# NTSB CEN26LA276: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N26KL, Bennett, IA, August 2, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 2, 2026, 13:18 local (18:18 UTC)
- Place: Bennett, IA · Pasture
- Coordinates: 41.745, -90.915833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7450&lon=-90.9158&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Des Moines FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA276
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203517/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA276

## Preliminary report

On August 2, 2026, about 1318 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II helicopter, N26KL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bennett, Iowa. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The pilot reported that as the helicopter passed over a tree line he felt a vibration in the airframe and when the vibration increased he decided to perform an autorotation into the next field. According to the pilot, the helicopter descended rapidly from about 20 ft above the ground which resulted in a hard landing. A witness to the accident reported hearing an “awful” noise before the helicopter passed over a tree. The witness stated that as the helicopter descended the main rotor blades almost stopped rotating when the helicopter was about 10 to 15 ft above the ground, and then the helicopter dropped vertically into the field. The airframe and tailboom sustained substantial damage during the hard landing. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility pending an examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26KL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26KL), registered now, S/N 12024, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 12024
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 1230.5
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: DK Aircraft LLC
- Registered owner: Kurt Lepping
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2026, 102 hours before
- Equipment: None

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KIOW, 29 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KIOW 021759Z AUTO 06008KT 10SM SCT030 BKN034 27/20 A2994 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260802011379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260802011379A), Aug 2, 2026: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Bennett, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot-in-command experienced an unknown shake/shimmy throughout aircraft while crossing a row of trees. The shake subsided momentarily, then returned.…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.